Hundreds of Algerian protesters took to the streets on Friday in the capital to keep up their push for a political overhaul in the country. Algeria has been under a political turmoil since longtime president Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down from his post in April vowing to months-long mass protests that began in February.
The protesters were seen swinging the Algerian flag that has been a mainstay of the protests that ended the President Bouteflika’s rule in April. Some also carried the Berber colors despite a ban on the minority’s flag imposed by Army Chief General Ahmed Gaid Salah this week, reported France 24.
The demonstrators held up banners directed to the ruling elite, which read, “Thieves, you have destroyed the country.”
“Algeria is a free and democratic country,” read another banner.
Notably, Algerians began their mass protests since Bouteflika announced plans to seek a fifth term in office. But, even after the veteran leader resigned, they continued to hold the protests demanding the departure of the entire regime that has run the North African country since independence from France in 1962. The list includes the names of interim president Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui.
The army chief has already ordered a wave of anti-corruption investigations. The latest to be detained as part of the corruption probe is businessman Hassan Larbaoui. Larbaoui is the director of a private company called Global Group, which runs a car assembly plant set up in joint venture with South Korea’s Kia Motors.
As per reports, the court of the first instance in Algiers has ordered the detention of Larbaoui along with the head of state bank Banque Nationale d’Algerie (BNA) and two industry ministry officials.
Last week, two former prime ministers Ahmed Ouyahia and Abdelmalek Sellal joined a long list of prominent politicians and businessmen who have been detained as part of the investigations into corruption.
